Hu calls for improvement in China's Uyghur region

China's President Hu Jintao called Tuesday for a "prosperous and harmonious" Xinjiang province during his first trip to the country's western Uyghur region since last month's deadly riots, state-run media reported.

"The key to our work in Xinjiang is to properly handle growth and stability," said Hu.

Hu, calling for reform, development, ethnic unity and stability in the region, expressed appreciation to the armed forces, militia and police for their work in quelling the July 5 ethnic riots in Urumqi, the capital of China's distant northwestern Xinjiang Autonomous Region, Xinhua news agency said.